The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1887-01-13
Rare and Untrfed Crops.

considering the propriety of engaging
in the cultivation of those that are not
generally raised in the vicinity where
they live and at present are in some
what active demand. Farmers and
breeders should exhibit the same en-
terprise that manufacturers and mer-
chants d n studying the market and
ascertain Z what it requires. They
must emp-oy good judgment, however.
or they will produce more of certain
things than can be disposed of at prices
that will cover the cost of raising. The
price of the minor and uncommon
crops fluctuate much more than does
that of the standard crops. As this is
the case thousands engage in their cul-
tivation when prices are high, and
abandon them as soon as prices de-
cline. By pursuing this course they,
make the market much more than it
would naturally do. Those who have
the capital and persistence to continue
to raise the minor crops through long
term of years generally do well, as the
losses during period of low prices are
made up at the times when prices are
high OF above the cost OF production.
There is always quite large do
mestic and foreign demand for hops,
but the price of them has varied more
during the past thirty years than of
anything raised on the farms During
the latter wears Of the civil war many
hop-raiser received dollar for the pro-
duet of each h H. Several times since
that period prime hops have scarcely
brought enough to pay the cost of pick
hall
ton of good timothy was worth as
much as "a ton of hops in a part of the
country where both crops are extensive
" raised. The yield of hops is very
uncertain on account of the attacks of
insects and unfavorable conditions of
the weather. When hops fail in one
portion of the country and succeed in
another, prices are likely to be high.
and many persons in the favored dis
II ct commence their cultivation. and
the chances are that the maket is over
stocked in few wears The hop-tields
are plowed up, the setting out of new
ones is neglected and prices are again
high. A number of farmers in this
country have become rich by raising
hops. but much larger number have
been ruined by going into the business
in an injudieous manner. A fair
amount of success has attended those
who made hops a leading crop for a
series of years.
No person should engage in the cul-
ture of hops on an extensive scale who
does not expect to continue in it during
many years, be the prices high or low.
1t requires Il large amount of knowledge
10 hn.1 icin
this knowledge must be acquired by ex-
perience. Considerable capital is re-
quired for preparing many acres for the
crop, buying the vines, culiivat;ng
them, purchasing and setting the poles.
and erecting drying-house. If the
business is abandoned on the first de-
cline in prices the time and money ex-
pended in gettinga start will be thrown
away. No one should attempt to en-
gage in hop raising who does not live
where the climate and soil are favorable
to the crop, where poles can be OBJ
tanned at low rates. and where p;ckers
can be hired during the season of har-
vesting. Local advantages have much
to do in insuring success. 1t is likely
that new hop-growing regions will be
discovered and utilized, as they have
recently been on the Pacific coast, but
the crop is not adapted to very large
portion of the country, as are the small
grains. A combination of several IA
vorable circumstances is necessary for
insuring even moderate success in rais-
hops.
Broom-corn is attended by fewer
risks than hops, and it is adapted to
1or IS
fluctuates more than that of the crops
that are now generally cultivated.
Castor beans have at times been very
profitable, but as they can be raised
over a large extent of country and the
amount required to supply the market
is comparatively small, there is little
prospect that they will ever be very
high again. They are chiefly used for
furnishing an oil to apply to leather.
to be used in medicine, and making q
hair dressing sold as '.pure bears
grease" The mills for the manufac-
ture of castor oil are chiefly located at
St. Louis, and the beans for supplying
them are raised in southern Illinois.
Missouri and Kansas. 1t is not likely
that the consumption of castor oil will
greatly increase. 1t will be used for
few specific purposes, but cheaper ami
NAL and mineral oils will generally take
its place in the mechanical arts. There
is no demand for castor beans for ex-
port, as they are produced much cheap
er in portions of Europe, Asia and At
RIGA than in this country, and for max
ing oil for medicinal purposes they are
preferred.
fof CT o,,tl l,y haix,
sented to farmers to invest in varities
of fruits, grains, and vegetables which
are new to them, but about which mar
velous stories are told by persons who
are trying to dispose of stock. During
the past four years parties have been
going about the country selling hull-less
or Bohemian oats to farmers at the rate
of $40 per bushel Many bought them
because they were assured that they
could dispose of all they raised for the
price they paid for their seed. The
yield of this grain was small, and there
was no demand for it for food or for
sowing. The seed of other kinds of
grain of no greater value has been sold
at prices far above the worth of any
cereal ever produced. Every year
| farmers allow themselves TO be imposed
upon by travelling dealers in trees.
vines, and bushes. They buy them on
the representation of men whom they
never saw before who are entirely un-
reliable. and who have no reputation to
lose. Perhaps they are induced to in-
vest in these untried grains and fruits
because they are dissatisfied with the
prices they obtain for the ordinary pro-
| ducts of their farm. They find before
very long that the old standard crops
| are far more valuable than the new and
dearly-bought acquisitions.
| A SeasOnable Hint.
A FASH on book entitled, What to
Wear" should add a supplement "How